The Carlow Writer-in-Residence Programme is lead and managed through the Arts Office of Carlow County Council in partnership with The Arts Council of Ireland, Carlow College/St. Patrick’s, and Carlow County Library Services. Over a three year period Carlow has seen leading Irish Writers working with both emerging and established Carlow writers. Over the last few months and responding to public health guidance much of the writing workshops went online and this programme saw a 100% increase in participation with up to 52 local writers engaging with the programme.
We are now delighted to welcome Fiach Moriarty as our next Writer in Residence. Fiach Moriarty is a singer, songwriter and musician from Dublin who has lived in Carlow since 2014. He has toured the world playing music and he has collaborated with acts such as Eddi Reader, Damien Dempsey, Paddy Moloney, Una Healy, Declan O’Rourke, Brian Kennedy, as well as Grammy nominees Paul Brady and Beoga. Recently, Fiach has hosted a six-part musical travel show on Virgin Media, ‘Jingle Jangle’, alongside Fiachna Ó Braonáin of the Hothouse Flowers and Jim Lockhart of Horslips, and is currently a member of the Late Late Show House Band every Friday night on RTÉ1. He has released two studio-length albums. Carlow people will be familiar with Fiach as, during the Lockdown, and in recent months, he has been appearing on KCLR and featured in the Carlow Nationlist as he leads the County Singalong Project initiated by the Arts Office of Carlow County Council. Fiach will be on the radio from mid-September every Friday evening again as this programme recommences
‘I was rendered speechless by his voice and songwriting. There was nothing I could say to this artist. Lyrically and musically he is one of the best singer-songwriters around.’
Christ White (The Zombies)
The Writer in Residence programme commences on Wednesday 16th September for a period of four months up until 18th December 2020. The residency will cover songwriting exercises that will look at writing Lyrics, Melody, Structure, Production, Listening and Analysis. Due to COVID 19 Restrictions there is an opportunity for up to five participants to physically join Fiach on a Wednesday lunchtime from 1.00 to 3.00 p.m. in Carlow College’s Writing Room in Therry Hall. And for others who wish to join the residency there are places of up to twenty participants who can join online Zoom classes. This will be done on a first come first served basis and a waiting list will be managed once twenty has been reached. No previous song-writing experience is necessary and the programme is open to all.
To register your interest, you are asked to contact Mairead Wilson, Carlow Arts Office by email mwilson@carlowcoco.ie to indicate if you wish to participate physically in Carlow College and on-line zoom classes or just on-line zoom classes. You will then be notified of health and safety requirements from Carlow College for you attending physically and will be notified of the schedule of on-line Zoom classes.
Whilst we all live in a time of uncertainty we will continue to strive to be flexible and adaptable to the changes that we may be faced with. We will be led by COVID19 Health and Safety guidance over the course of the residency, therefore things may change. We have found that on-line engagement has been a great social outlet for communities and ways of connecting and bringing you together. The Arts have played an enormous role in these uncertain times and shown resilience as we all strive to adapt during these difficult and challenging times. We will notify participants of any changes to the programme during this time.
To register your interest please contact Mairead Wilson, Carlow Arts Office by email mwilson@carlowcoco.ie.
For further information please contact Sinead Dowling, Arts Officer, Carlow County Council, sdowling@carlowcoco.ie
